HEALTHCARE FOOD ENVIRONMENT
ENACT STRATEGY: Farmers' Markets
Enhance staff and community access to fresh produce by establishing accessible Farmers' Markets or farm stand programs
Farmers' markets and farm stands are increasingly popular and serve as valuable sources of fresh produce and other goods. Hospitals across the county are beginning to show leadership in health promotion by hosting farmers’ markets at their facilities, demonstrating to other area business the importance of enhancing employee access to fresh, locally grown food. These on-site farmers’ markets not only provide hospital staff with an opportunity to purchase produce on a break or during their lunch hour, but can also increase access to fresh produce for patients and community residents living nearby. As an alternative to farmers’ markets, health facilities can increase employee access to fresh and healthy foods by acting as a delivery site for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes, a weekly delivery of produce and other farm fresh food products. Farmers markets, farm stands, and CSA boxes all play a vital role in providing small- to medium-sized growers with access to consumers wishing to buy their products.
- Farmers’ Market
- Farm Stands
- Community Supported Agriculture
Farmers' Markets and CSAs on Hospital Grounds
This fact sheet produced by Health Care Without Harm shares the benefits of hospital farmers’ markets, the challenges, and tips for getting started.
Farmers' Markets: Improving Health, Improving Community
The C.S. Mott Group at Michigan State University answers Frequently Asked Questions about the basics of Farmers’ Markets and provides a list of related resources.
Community Supported Agriculture: Improving Health Across Communities
The C.S. Mott Group at Michigan State University answers Frequently Asked Questions about the basics of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and provides a list of related resources.
Healthy Food, Healthy Hospitals, Healthy Communities
The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s report includes case studies about health care organizations who have made innovative efforts to change their food environment by sponsoring farmers’ markets, adapting their food policies to express preference for organic and/or local foods, and implementing healthy vending machine policies.
Produce to the People (PDF)
In an article for the Permanente Journal, Dr. Preston Maring describes his successful efforts in bringing a farmer’s market to Kaiser Permanente Oakland.
Kaiser Permanente Farmers' Market Resource Guide
Kaiser Permanente’s guide describes the various farmers’ market programs being implemented within the Kaiser healthy system, shares lessons learned, and provides tools such as sample contract and public relations materials.
Farmers' Markets: Rules, Regulations and Opportunities
This paper by the National Agricultural Law Center examines the structure and operation of farmers’ markets with special attention to the legal and regulatory issues that shape their operation.
Food Security Learning Center
This website resource provided by World Hunger Year offers a long list of resources regarding farmers' markets, including policy initiatives, successful program profiles, advocacy tools, and further resources.
Health Care Without Harm is working with hospitals to provide nutritionally improved food for patients, staff, visitors, and the general public, and create food systems which are ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially responsible.